MAORI PARLIAMENT.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1695, 11 March 1913, Page 5

MAORI PARLIAMENT.

GOVERNMENT'S POLICY DigCUSSED. NATIVE LANDS. A BASIS OF UNION. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) Gisborne, March 10. At .tho hui at Manuhuke on Saturday there assembled in "parliament" representatives of every Maori tribe in New Aftor discussing, fully tho Hon. W. H. Herries's policy speech delivered at owning °f the hui, a formal reply *l a - y < ' I ' nwu up to be signed by rej"e?'Wives of all tho various tribes, and forwarded to Mr. Herries. A rough 'follows'— n ' s 9 IUCW ' m ' : condensed, is as regard to your request for the ear ot the Maori pedple and the assistance and co-operation of tho Maori people in your administration of the various statutes constructed ( by you, we are unanimously ot tile opinicn that it .is only due to you, as our Minister, that your request should be granted without reservation of any f.'nd- For your request was made in the light of day as befits tho status of a Rangitira. We would add that if you should lead and direct the people aright, and take care of the residue of th'eir lands, then we would hear you and act with you. So far, we do not yet know how you will behave in this matter,'so while we are willing to be at one with yim the lack of familiarity between us prompts us to watch you with caution. (2) You say that the main plank of your platform as Native. Minister, as well as that *f your Government, is to bring the two races under one statutory control—one system of laws for both. We

must also confess that after due consideration of the issue the advantages our enlightened majority enjoy at present outweigh the hypothetical : 'benefits which the same majority cannot ', appreciate. Therefore, this representative gathering of tho.Maori people are unanimously' of tho opinion that the Europeanisation of the Maoris is an impracticable step. ; . (3) You urged. that, we should give serious attention to'the question of the partition of our lands, so that the interests of: each* person or each family may be reduced to a definite table. That suggestion is a perfectly reasonable one. but if a large section of the Maori people consider that it is better .to keep their lands ■together in a body, and that they can find suitable means of profitably working theso lands held in that fashion, we respectfully ask the Government not to put hny_ legislative obstruction in the way 'of thoir doing so. You i are aware, that there are many blocks of land which cannot be practically and profitably individualised. The- individual interests in such blocks are so infinitesimal that the , cost entailed by the process of ascertain- ; ment and completion of title "will absorb the value of the individual interests in" the whole block. We concede that to subdivide the larger interests is the correct, thing, .but (during the process of partition of such ilarge . blocks we respectfully request the Government to prevent any alienation of any individual interest until the titles to 'all subdivision have been completed. (4) You recommend the abolition of. the Native Land Boards, as well as all other statutory .means!whereby trustees are empowered to either sell or purchase or lease Native land. If, however, you propose to hand over the work and authority of the board to, another official we are indifferent, but our, unanimous wish is that 'your.-Government.'should amend ' those parts of the' Act empowering the board iwhioh are difficult of administration., (5) In regard to restrictions on Native rial ids, we ask .the Government to carefully consider !tW case of those distriots '.Whose Native lands have been reduced to ;a minimum,' with a view to thq'prevention ■pf the sale of any land in such 'districts. 'There ,are! ; districts that have surplus lands .beyond : the '.requirements and the power of., the owners, to..cultivate. . We Mo.not recommend that you prevent the /sale of these lands, but we,respectfully rc- ' jquest your Government not to trust sole•ly to the individual power of the Nativo ■ owners to hold their land, but rather to ! exorcise some measure of paternal oversight. . As a final word, we wish to express our .extreme pleasure at your visit to lis in jihat you have been good enough to ex'pouiul to us your policy. This unique '.gathering of the remnants of the Maori '.race cannot thank you too much for your expressed opinion that you will not per- ; jmt the taking of Native land held in common for the'; purposes of close settle:ment. /We ask you solemnly to keep your ..word, and we-respectfully reqtfest you not : rto close your, eyes to the fact of the want (of enlightenment of the Maori people; jsilso not to regard the advance made by , m few isolated members'of our race as a basis of your legislation! The Maori raco • lis a tender but hopeful plant. Tend it . ;«ently. ■ ! The Runanga then discussed a proposal to unite the Maori raoe, and the following basis of unity was agreed, to be included in the communication to the Minister:— vVVe unanimously agree— (1) To Unite the various sections of the Maori people. , (2) The basis of such union shall bo as '■follows:—(«) To observe and maintain all /those customs and practices tending to [preserve the high status which the Maoris jalone hold of all native races, acknowledging the rule of the British King. . (b) 'To search existing statutes.for all matters dealing with the Native land problems., (c) To amend those statutes requiring amendment, and to act as a guide ' to direct the Maori people for the future years. (3) With a view to giving body to this •proposed union as th? authoritative voice of the Maori people, it is recommended that a representative body called the Parliamentary Committee of the Maori people, shall be chosea to advise and strengthen the hands of the. four Maori members in Parliament. The basis of representation on such committee will bo two for each Maori Council district, the aggregate number to be 48, such members to be elected as follows:—Northern District. 12 members; Western' District, 17; East Coast District, 14; South Island, 8. The first meeting of such committee will be held in Wellington. At that meeting a chairman and secretary will be appointed. ; This concluded the sessions of the ■"Parliament.".